raced keenly, held up tracking leaders, smooth headway on outside 3f out, ridden and every chance over 1f out, hung right inside final furlong, weakened towards finish
led after 1f, ridden over 1f out, soon strongly pressed, headed close home
led 1f, tracked leader, settled 3rd 7f out, pushed along 4f out, challenged from 2f out, every chance inside final furlong, no extra towards finish
held up in last pair, closer 5f out, headway on outside chasing leaders over 2f out, soon ridden, weakened final furlong
tracked leaders, went 2nd 7f out until inside final 3f, weakened 2f out
tracked leaders on inside, ridden and weakened over 1f out
held up, headway chasing leaders 3f out, ridden to challenge over 1f out, stayed on gamely to lead close home
slowly into stride, held up in rear, came very wide in straight, kept on same pace final 2f
Imperial Focus won over a shorter trip at Redcar recently but that was his first success on the Flat after 26 attempts and LADY SHANAWELL is preferred. The dual hurdles winner has yet to score in this code but went close to doing so over today’s trip at Pontefract last time and this looks an even weaker contest. Optima Petamus won at Newcastle at the end of last year but is another with a poor strike rate while Madeeh tumbles further down the weights and Lizzie Loch has her first outing since October.
Imperial Focus (IRE) 11-2 (9-6) Broke well, chased leaders, challenged over 2f out, led over 1f out, stayed on well, won at Redcar 1m 2f hcp (6) gd in Jun beating Broctune Red (9-2) by 1 3/4l, 12 ran.
Lizzie Loch 50-1 (9-1) Disputed 2nd to 7f out, tracked front pair, driven and lost place over 2f out, weakened final furlong, 7th of 14, 16 1/2l behind Smart Lass (9-2) at Musselburgh 1m 5f hcp (6) sft in Oct.
Ezanak (IRE) 33-1 (9-7) Led, headed over 8f out, tracked leaders, ridden over 2f out, weakened over 1f out, 6th of 9, 6 1/2l behind Settle Petal (9-6) at Lingfield 1m 4f hcp (6) pol in Jun.
Lady Shanawell (IRE) 14-1 (9-1) Steadied start, behind, not clear run over 2f out, switched right over 1f out, edged left inside final furlong, stayed on towards finish, went 2nd close home, 2nd of 14, 3/4l behind Kaylen's Mischief (9-7) at Pontefract 1m 4f hcp (6) gd in Jun.
Leodis (IRE) 80-1 (9-3) Towards rear, ridden and well beaten final 3f, last of 14, dist behind Kaylen's Mischief (9-7) at Pontefract 1m 4f hcp (6) gd in Jun.
Something Brewing (FR) 33-1 (9-7) Led early, chased leaders, ridden over 3f out, soon beaten, 10th of 12, 10l behind Imperial Focus (9-6) at Redcar 1m 2f hcp (6) gd in Jun.
Barney Bullet (IRE) 33-1 (9-10) Always towards rear, 10th of 12, 17 1/2l behind Thorntoun Care (11-4) at Beverley 1m 2f hcp (6) sft in Sep.
Circuit 33-1 (8-7) Always towards rear, never on terms, 9th of 12, 8 3/4l behind Dragons Will Rise (8-11) at Newcastle 1m hcp (6) pol in Mar.
Madeeh 9-2 (9-3) Slowly into stride, always behind, last of 11, 11 1/2l behind Just An Idea (8-9) at Chelmsford City 7f hcp (6) pol in Jun.
Optima Petamus 7-1 (9-0) Chased leaders, went 2nd over 4f out, no chance with winner final 3f, 2nd of 8, 14l behind Brooklyn Boy (9-5) at Southwell 1m 3f hcp (6) pol in Feb.